Genentech's Kindergarten to Careers initiative is changing the face of science by providing pathways for diverse students of all ages.
As part of Genentech's commitment to Transforming Society, Kindergarten to Careers is focused on developing a diverse pipeline of next-generation science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent that will lead to a scientific and medical workforce that better reflects the patients we serve.
We do this through deep partnerships, mentoring, training, resources and grants that:
- Engage students along the education continuum
- Help to break down systemic barriers
- Work to ensure that diverse students have sustainable pathways into our company and the broader healthcare industry
In 2022, we built upon our success by introducing Futurelab+ and continuing our support of both Genentech Scientific and Technical Academic Relationship (gSTAR)/Promoting Inclusivity in Computing (PINC) Certificate and the Meyerhoff Fellowship Program.
Futurelab+: Transforming High School STEM Education Futurelab+ is a $10 million expansion of Genentech's original South San Francisco Futurelab Program. It will support millions of more diverse K-12 students in receiving a quality, biotechnology-focused, high school education. Currently, just 35% of U.S. high schools offer biotechnology in their curricula, and of those the majority of offerings are only available in higher-income districts. Genentech's goal is to reach two million students by 2026 with a free, equity-centered, educator supported STEM curriculum.
gSTAR/PINC: Building Undergraduate Expertise in Data Science and Machine Learning The gSTAR/PINC program is a marriage between Genentech's gSTAR program and San Francisco State University's (SFSU) PINC program. This novel certificate program requires rigorous study across data science and machine learning applications in biotechnology in a suite of courses designed by SFSU professors and Genentech scientists.
"There is an amazing pool of talent in our own backyard, so we worked with SFSU to create an approach to undergraduate education that could potentially change the face of science and computation," says Marlena Jackson, Senior Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner, Chief Diversity Office.
In 2022, 11 SFSU students completed the certificate during the inaugural 2021-22 academic year, and six interned at Genentech in the summer of 2022.Meyerhoff Fellowship Program: Offering Industry Career Experience for Ph.D. Students The goal of the venerable Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows program, which is run by the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is to increase diversity among Ph.D. students in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Genentech's collaboration with the program includes a five-year commitment for two fellows per year to complete a 12-month fellowship at Genentech.
In 2022, we welcomed our first Meyerhoff fellows Brianna Scotland, pursuing a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, and Maraki Negesse, pursuing a Ph.D. in biological sciences, both in Genentech Research and Early Development. Fellowships such as these help diversify our talent pipeline by exposing students to a range of career paths beyond teaching in colleges and universities."The Meyerhoff fellowship at Genentech was an incredible opportunity to learn at one of the best companies in the industry. And because representation is lacking in academia, it was powerful to work with and learn from such a diverse team: from other fellows and my mentor, to leaders like Aviv Regev and Quita Highsmith."
Maraki Negesse 2022 Genentech-Meyerhoff Fellow
